Iron Spring Farm's Yearling Bien Sir ISF Claims Grand Champion at
Dressage at Devon Presented by WTDirect
Release: September 28 2007

By Christine DeHerrera
In an exciting finish to the second day of Dressage at Devon
presented by WTDirect, a yearling bested two very impressive mature
horses to win the grand championship. Iron Spring Farm's Bien Sir
ISF claimed the night's final victory after also earning three
championships on Day One. The Sir Sinclair son impressed the
international judging panel and audience with his elastic, uphill
movement and charisma.

"Bien Sir ISF is one of the nicest young horses I have worked
around," said Melissa Gallagher from Iron Spring Farm. "He's super
easy, just like his dad. He's very special."

Handler Rob De Bruin also praised the colt's easygoing temperament,
which he attributes to his bloodlines. "You never know how young
horses will react. For a yearling, two days [of horse showing] is a
lot," he said. "He comes out to show, but he stays quiet. He's a
horse you can trust. Most Sir Sinclair offspring are like that."
Bien Sir ISF also inherited good genes from his mother, Toraya who
is by Goodtimes. Iron Spring plans to allow the spectacular KWPN-NA
(Dutch Warmblood) colt to mature into a performance horse. Offspring
such as Bien Sir ISF allowed Sir Sinclair to finish first and second
in the Get of Sire class, a class he also won in 2006.

Claiming the Reserve Grand Championship was another Iron Spring Farm
horse, Rabiola. The nine-year-old KWPN mare was the Grand Champion
at last year's Dressage at Devon. The Metall daughter strutted her
stuff and also trotted off with the Mare Championship and the Mature
Horse Championship.

The Reserve Mature Horse Championship, the Stallion Championship and
the Great American/USDF Stallion Championship were awarded to
Wellington Farm's impressive grey Swedish stallion Stonefire 1074.
The Briar 899 son was found in Sweden by Hokan Thorn, who handled
the stallion throughout the day and will also ride him in the Fourth
Level classes later in the week. "I cannot believe this; it's so
exciting!" said the horse's obviously thrilled owner Taunia Reed.
She recalled that her first impression of him sleeping in his stall
in Sweden was quickly replaced once she saw him trot. "This horse
moves," she said. "[Hokan] says it's like riding a rubber ball."

While the stallions and mares impressed the audience, hundreds of
volunteers worked tirelessly to make the show run smoothly. One of
those volunteers, Sophie Ghedin, was able to take a little time out
to compete. Ghedin, of West Chester, PA, who's known affectionately
as "Sophie Trophy" has prepared and organized the thousands of
awards distributed at the show for four years. Always known for her
smile and encouragement to all, it was Ghedin who received the
applause today as she won the Suitable to Become a Dressage Horse
(five-year-old) class with her partner Remy Martin G.

"I was a nervous wreck this morning," she recalled. "But then I
thought I will go there and have fun. When I heard the grounds crew
and everyone in the committee stand cheering for me, it was just
wonderful. I'm ecstatic." Grand Prix rider Sahar Hirosh summed it
up, "She's been cheering everyone for years. To see her winning is
really great."

In 2003, the Dressage at Devon Committee developed the Born in the
USA Breeders Awards to recognize and reward the achievements of
American breeders. To be eligible, horses must be conceived and born
in the U.S.A. Scores earned in the open competition on September 25
and 26 are used to calculate the winners, who will receive more than
$6,000 in 14 categories. This year the Denise McCabe Memorial
Perpetual Trophy for the overall top scoring Born in the USA horse
was awarded to Sporting Chance Farm's Wildcard SCF. The four-year-
old KWPN-NA mare by Goodtimes impressed with a score of 85.00 in the
Four-Year-Old and Older Broodmares class.

While eights and nines are highly coveted scores in dressage and
sport horse breeding competitions, one competitor showed that
perfection is possible. Arielle M. Perry of Spring Hope, NC, earned
a perfect score of 100% in the Junior/Young Rider Handler class.
Judged by Olympic Medalist Hilda Gurney, Perry blew the competition
away with a score that was more than 20% higher than the second-
place finisher.

At the completion of the Breed Show on Thursday, officials at the
top of their field from throughout the U.S. and Europe will have
judged 425 horses, representing close to 30 breeds, in about 70
classes. The show continues through Sunday with the continent's top
dressage horses and riders, including Olympians and local favorites.
For results, schedules and more, visit www.DressageAtDevon.org.